MARKET REPORT: CRH led the way for a Dublin market that was in line with advancing European trends, even if it lagged the gains elsewhere.

The industrial heavyweight soared nearly 5 per cent on the back of positive news both from Europe and the United States. Construction data from the US showed that spending in October was up 7 per cent on the same time last year. Earlier, a Euroconstruct report showed prospects for Europe brightening next year which this year featured Irish outperformance. The share closed on its session high of €16.25, up 73 cents.

Bank of Ireland also performed strongly, adding 30 cents to €10.60 amid decent buying interest, having traded as high as €10.72.

"For the first time in a while, buyers won through," said one dealer. "A bounce in Bank of Ireland, AIB is due as they have markedly underperformed the market recently."

Bank of Ireland also announced that it had bought 430,000 shares in the market on Friday as part of an ongoing share buyback programme.

AIB was also in the black, adding eight cents to €12.43 ahead of a trading statement due tomorrow, while Anglo Irish was 10 cents stronger on €11.40. After a wobbly start, Irish Life & Permanent closed on €11.90, 15 cents ahead of last week's close.

Independent News & Media moved higher again after announcing details of its bond issue. It ended the session four cents ahead on €2.06.

Waterford Wedgwood saw the busiest trading of the day with more than 11.3 million shares trading in Dublin alone. Decent retail sales data from the US were insufficient to stop the stock falling two cents to 26 cents.